US Patent 7860121 Forwarding loop prevention apparatus and methods

Forwarding loop prevention apparatus and methods are provided. After a communication traffic block such as a packet is received, a determination is made as to whether the packet is to be broadcasted to a number of communication devices. If the packet is to be broadcasted, the packet is modified to include an indication that the packet is reflected, and the packet is broadcasted. A device that receives the broadcasted packet determines whether it is reflected and whether the identifier is associated with the device. If the packet is reflected and the identifier is associated with the device, the device discards the packet. Otherwise it forwards the packet. Forwarding loops may instead be avoided without modifying packets, based on an amount of time elapsed between sending and receiving a packet.